The only thing we can really do is regularly inspect lines to look for wear. Then theres just age, and this factor as a reason to re-rig is more subject to a boats history than anything else. Attach as many of the rigging lines as possible to the masts, booms, and gaffs. Then we head over to Bacon Sails and Marine Supplies for a tu. At least once a year, at the beginning or end of the sailing season, you should visually inspect all of your running rigging and look for signs of wear. Inexpensive, double-braid Dacron is a fine choice for furling lines on most boats shorter than 40 feet. If you don't have that you may be able to find it on line or on line at your boat class owners' association. Most people starting out will get a smaller size boat and use it for day trips and weekend trips. You must log in or register to reply here. Some have an extra light sheet for real light winds so the sheet doesnt weigh the jib down. The running rigging consists of all the lines, sheets, and so on that is used to haul and operate the sails. On average, it costs about $15 to $20 per foot to get your sailboat hull painted professionally. . First, its easier to fix in remote places and on your own. Let them know any of your concerns before they get started. To differentiate the frame from the current, remember that the current is mobile (it runs). I'll explain how below. These boats have less moving parts and less critical parts. The former requires someone with a swage machine to fit terminals, the latter you can fit yourselfwith care. This was most likely caused by something sharp and pointy that poked through the cover and caught on the core. You should have the boat itself (the hull), the dagger board, the rudder and tiller, your mainsheet, both mast pieces, boom, boom bang and sail in one place. No signs of corrosion or stray strands anywhere. But you know what is more expensive? But Marissa and Chris Neely on Avocet saw a weather window and jumped, making their first big offshore passage the wrong way from Santa Barbara to San Francisco and loving itmostly. As a basic rule, the replacement of the standing rig should be done every 10 years, except for multihulls or regattas, and rod or composite fiber rigging. This line wont last long in these conditions. After that, you'll need to change them out. Depending on the answers to those questions and others, a professionally done re-rig for a 40-footer could be closer to $6,000 or more. But a newly cracked sheave or an exposed cotter pin can quickly shred a line that otherwise would have lasted much longer. This site is owned and operated by Truly Content. Its always advisable to unstep the mast every few years to check it over thoroughly at ground level, so this is an obvious time to consider replacing the shrouds and stays, particularly if the forestay is to be replaced, as removing the furler without damaging it can be a tricky task. Outboard starters run from about $100 - $500. I actually just replaced the outer turnbuckles. Send messengers up mast for in-mast rigging - 3/2018 Every time I think Ive seen it all, my people outdo themselves and serve up the unexpected. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE: More Info. Most sailors choose to leave this to a professional rigger, but theres no reason why you shouldnt attempt it yourself if you know the best way to go about it. With chainplates its often not the actual hardware that fails, but the structure that supports them. Next check the back and forestay fittings where they connect to the mast, ensuring any clevis pins are straight and secure. rigbos.com our online store is a progression allowing us to more effisantly supply customer Members of ABYC . If you want to know exactly what the USCG safety requirements are, including checklists, definitely check out my article here. Youre out there offshore and theres a squall coming and you start worrying about the craziest of things, and you dont want to have any unknowns. Thats especially true of the system that keeps the mast and sails up. You should be able to get the specs off the internet. The idea is you come on deck with this small canvas bag and make it happen, Cockerill says. When youre happy everything is in place, its time to tune your rig. JavaScript is disabled. Replacing electronics won't be very important - however, your batteries will need to be replaced more often. Most racers that use stripped cover halyards are diligent about inspecting these lines and some even replace them every season. If you need to replace the mast and boom, prepare to spend anywhere between $15,000 - $25,000. But Malizia is far from the only team struggling to keep their boat in good read more, Get your ground tackle setup right, and youll sleep much easier while youre cruising. Replacing Running Rigging on an Older Sailboat If you're thinking of buying a used sailboat it's probable that your final selection will be a boat that is a few years old - and the halyards, mainsheet, backstay, jibsheets and other running rigging will probably look a little old, dirty and frayed. Remove old lifelines and frayed running rigging. Listing Results for Shore Support & Services, Sailing & Rigging and ENG1 Medical Certificate in Marans, Levallois Perret and Cap D'Agde It will be important to maintain a couple of parts, though: With a first boat, you most likely won't invest in new sails or the standing rigging if you don't have to. Most engines will last you about 20 years, depending on the amount of use and whether you use it properly. For all of these reasons, most riggers agree that when your sailboats standing rigging approaches 15 years old, its a good time to consider replacing it. Do disconnect them and inspect them very carefully for cracks on a well-lit workbench. For an average 40-foot boat, Cockerill estimates about $100 per foot to re-rig with wire rigging ($4,000), as well as the round-trip cost to haul and launch the boat and unstep and step the rig (an additional $2,500 or so). Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com I'm the owner of ImproveSailing. Good quality cruising sails will need to be replaced every 10 years or so. That was a case of not knowing that the worst thing you can do to standing rigging is have it loose on the leeward side, he says. This is a very serious problem for the average sailor. This small cruiser is well built, easy to handle and relatively economical to maintain. If youre thinking of buying a used sailboat its probable that your final selection will be a boat that is a few years old and the halyards, mainsheet, backstay, jibsheets and other running rigging will probably look a little old, dirty and frayed. In other words, if your boat already has rod rigging, with all of the end fittings to terminate the rods both on deck and in or on the mast, then sticking with rod will ultimately be less expensive than making the switch to wire. Running the halyards Both the Jib and Main halyards are purple , high-load, Marlow Spectra line. I won't go into detail, but I have written an in-depth article about the cost of new sails (opens in new tab). These products sell from $1.00 to $2.50 per foot. If you want to go for super low stretch halyards look at Spectra but the stretch isnt much more for a lot more bucks. If the baseplates, for example, are leaking, water will penetrate the deck, making the surrounding deck core mushy and weak (if a core exists) and possibly compromising supporting bulkheads and structures belowdecks. Ive had some snafus out there to be sure, and they loom large when theyre read more, When One Wrong Makes a Right Everybody knows youre not supposed to sail up the Pacific Coast! Ensure swivels are working and remove any shackles. Our selection runs the gamut, from economical polyester single- and double-braids to high-tech, low-stretch line made from materials such as Dyneema, Spectra, Technora, Kevlar and Vectran. For over 40 years we have specialized in manufacturing standing rigging for all of the major sailboat manufacturers nationwide. The actual total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000, due to other recurring costs like docking and insurance fees. If in doubt, get your deck buddy to rig temporary stays using the halyards and check each stayone at a timewith it slackened off. So youre sailing offshore and youre looking at the windward shroud thats taut, and thats not the one to worry about. If you follow directions, they are fairly straightforward to install, although not especially easy. Preparing The Boat For Rigging. Deep cycle batteries (which are best for household functionality) need replacing every 4-6 years and will cost roughly $600. Before you contemplate the task of renewing your standing rigging you need to thoroughly inspect all components at close quarters to find out exactly what needs to be replaced and what items can be safely transferred to the new rig. If you replace the rigging preventively, you should never experience the failure I did. Some of these might not apply to your situation. I'll pull the standing rigging and as much hardware as reasonably possible (tangs, bolts, pins, turnbuckles, etc) and drop it off to a local rigger. Every sailboat has an Out Haul and a Down Haul. The diameter of the sheets and halyards will depend on what fits the blocks that you have. This produces an easy-to-handle rope that is strong and durable. Check the deck around the chainplates and mast for cracking and delamination. A prudent sailor should inspect his or her standing rig at least once each season and should know when the time comes to replace most or all of it. The theory is that youve crushed it so tightly that all the wires inside have just merged into one solid piece of stainless, Madden says. Did you know that rope halyards are easier to handle and significantly lighter than wire halyards. Sometimes they let you go longer if you have the rig professionally inspected, particularly if you have an electronic check carried out on the terminals and other crucial fittings. The next area deserving close scrutiny is the spreaders. if it were wire you could get away for about half that price. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. Re-rigging To re-mouse the halyards, flake out the halyard, attach the working end to the mousing line that comes from the masthead, and check they are secure, before pulling back through. Before long this will create slack in the rig, generating bends and stresses elsewhere. Proper size and material components for the rig are further consideration. There are so many variables in the system types of end fittings, types of masts, types of attachment points that each boat will have its own specific requirements that can affect cost. Do you hire a pro or go it alone? Keep the tension equal on each side by counting the turns on each turnbuckle. You will most likely also need (or want) to replace toggles and cotter pins, even if you keep the turnbuckles. I personally take stock of a pleasure boat's components and their age and will not load an older boat's rigging as much as I would a newer one. Having to hire a rigger to climb your mast to run a new halyard after the old one breaks. Start at the bottom, working your way up from the lowers, to the cap shrouds and finally the stays. I think the owner needs to replace those but there's a Covid problem. When inspecting your rig you should also make an inventory of all its parts and their dimensions. A standard 15HP or 20HP outboard gas engine will cost you about $5,000 - $6,000 and needs replacing every 20 years or so. The standing rigging consists of wires supporting the mast on a sailboat and reinforcing the spars from the force of the sails when sailing. 9034 GD Marsum Sasker van Heringawei 16E Let's start by getting a good overview of the different maintenance costs. When I thought about it this way, it seemed easy to give ourselves 20 years of confidence for our Lake Erie boat, rather than take the risk of waiting. If your running rigging has seen better days, now might be the time to replace it. These specific components likewise reinforce the spars against increased loads when wind interacts . Double Braid: A braided core inside a braided cover. Have a feel for any rough or sharp edges, especially cotter pin ends that might chafe lines or sails. Most recent receipt was for lower stays 10 years ago. The fastest route to crevice corrosion is to cover the metal with plastic or leather turnbuckle covers or to coat the fittings in tape. Next check the back and forestay fittings where they connect to the mast, ensuring any clevis pins are straight and secure. For a medium-sized boat (30-50 feet), the cost will be somewhere between $2000 and $4000. The warm trade winds in the West Indies were calling; time to go sailing. Sailboat Running Rigging You don't want to have faulty sailboat running rigging. The cost of replacing the standing rigging will vary greatly depending on the size of your boat and the location you get the job done. The three most commonly used types of attachments are swaged and mechanical fittings for wire, and cold heads for rod. LUBE SAIL TRACK MATERIALS 3/2019. Sometimes it can be very obvious, but other times it is not. It wears with time due to UV exposure, flogging, strain from the wind, and regular use. They might have swollen, so the new will appear to be a smaller gauge. Double braid lines are used in running rigging and dock . This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. In marine environments, everything can go wrong exactly one time for it to be critical. Cleat the halyard and pull it to the tape mark on one side . Its imported and sold through distributors like Alps Wire Rope. Overall, this halyard looked relatively new compared to some of the other lines on this boat, and this sheave probably caused the demise of the previous halyard. With a spare mechanical end fitting, wire and the proper tools, you can replace a stay pretty much anywhere. Since each one is 34' and then add another 6-10 to be safe? If the wire in a stay or shroud has stretched to the point where theres no room for further adjustment, make sure you compensate for this when replacing the wire so that at least one-third of the turnbuckle body is open to accommodate adjustments when the rig is fully tensioned. Swaging must be professionally done, and the result is extremely strong and generally has a long life. First, check for cracks (usually longitudinal), particularly if the terminal looks misshapen or the stay is misaligned in any way. A boat with sound supports should not require re-tuning in less than 5 years. For a small boat (under 30 feet), you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $2000 for standing rigging replacement. Depending on the spreader joint, cap shrouds can sometimes prove troublesome as well, often requiring the spreaders to be disconnected at their roots. 3. To avoid excessive wear, make sure your halyard sheaves are the proper type for whatever line you select. Either way, Jimmie Cockerill, co-owner of the Rigging Company in Annapolis, recommends that for a sailboat with wire rigging, the mast should be pulled and all fittings and wire visually inspected every five to six years.
